Toy riding device



1959- R. OQVARNUM 2,898,107

TOY RIDING DEVICE Filed Aug. 22, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Richard 0. VarnumINVEN TOR.

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U it d S te Patlif TOY RIDI NG DEVICE H f Richard Varnum, FortKlamathyoregf a:

Application August'22, 1957; SerialN'o. 679 ,63}

k i 3Claims. germ-53.2

The present invention generally relates to a novel. con

struction in a toy of the riding type which are generally known as 'aHobby-Horse. F Y

. An object of the preseritinvention is to provide a toy.- riding.device whichi 'isa. direct improvement over my'pri'or Patent No.2,477,504, granted July 26,1949 for Exercising Toy. I 1 1' 1= Anotherimportant object of the present invention is to provide a toy ridingdevice incorporatinga flat leaf spring formed into a generally U-shapedmember to provide resilient support means for a pivotal lever shaped inthe form of an animal with an occupants seat pro! vided on the ridingdevice for :creating oscillatory movementgenerally in a vertical planeby; shifting of the weight of the occupant. A further object of thepresent invention 'is to-pro-, vide a toy riding 'de'vice in accordancewith the preceding objects in which adjustment features areprovided forpermitting the device to be adjusted to receive different size childrenand for permitting the riding characteristics of the device to bealtered. p

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toy ridingdevice which is extre'melysimple in'construction, 'safe in operation,adapted-for use as: a -toy or an exercisingdevice, strong and durable,attractive inappearance and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.'Thes'e together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the toy riding device of thepresent invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the construction of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal, plan sectional view taken substantially upona plane passing along section line 3-3 of Figure 1 illustrating theconstruction of the base;

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a planepassing along section line 44 of Figure 1 illustrating the structure formounting the rear end of the pivotal lever to the base;

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a planepassing along section line 55 of Figure 1 illustrating the adjustableattachment and structural details of the foot rest or stirrups; and

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the toy riding device.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generallydesignates the toy riding device of the present invention including anelongated longitudinal base member 12 having a transversely extendingbase member 14 at the forward end thereof and secured thereto byfasteningmembers 16. The forward end of and is pivotally secured theretoby a pivot pin or fastenice 18 receiving the transverse base member 14thus retainthe transverse base member 14 in rigid perpendicular relationto the longitudinal base member 12 thus effectively forming a T-shapedbase member.

" IAt'the rear end of the longitudinal base member 12 isprovided alongitudinally extending recess 20 reeeiv:

ing a generally horizontally disposed leg portion 22 of a 'substantiallyU-shaped flat leaf spring 24 having a forwardly extending and upwardlyinclined elongated leg portion 26 which extends beyond the generallyhorizontal leg portion 22 and diverges therefrom. The horizontal legportion 22 of the U-shaped spring 24 is secured to the longitudinal basemember 12 by fastening members 28.'

The forwardend of the elongated leg portion 26 of the spring 24 isprovided with a generally oval shaped seat 30 secured thereto by aplurality of fastening bolts 34 whereby the seat 30 is disposed on theupper surface of the leg portion '26. The oval shaped seat 30 isprovided with a pair of concave side edge portions 36 hav-' ingforwardly extending side members 38 forming furcations which define anelongated slot or recess 40 therebetween.

The furcations 38 are provided with a series of mutual-1 lyspacedapertures 42 for adjustably mounting a bearing block 44 on the uppersurface of each furcation 38 by employing fastening bolts 46. Agenerally L-shaped lever generally designated by the numeral 48 isprovided with a forward upstanding or vertically extending portion 50and a rearward extending lower portion 52. The upper end of theupstanding'portion50 is shaped to simulate ahorses head 54 and may bepainted or decorated to more closely simulate a'horses head or a similaranimals head. I The vertically extending upstanding portion 50 isprovided with a transverse shaft 56 rigid therewith which is 'journaledin'the bearing blocks 44. Also provided on the upstanding portion 50 is'a pair of laterally extending hand'holds or hand grips 58 which aredisposed adjacent the upper end of the upstanding portion 50' andadjacent the head 54 whereby an occupant sitting on' the seat'30 inaygrasp the hand grips 58.

The rearwardly extending portion 52 is provided with a series ofvertically spaced transverse bores or apertures 60 adjacent the lowerend of the upstanding portion 50 and generally below the concaverecesses 36, for mounting a pair of stirrups 62 on opposite sides of thelever 48 by employing a fastening bolt 64 in one of the apertures 60thereby altering the vertical elevation of the laterally extending footrest 66 on the lower ends of the stirrups 62. This alters therelationship between the foot rests 66 and the seat 30 for permittingchildren of different sizes to efiectively use the device.

At the rear end of the rearwardly extending portion 52 of the lever 48is provided a strap or bracket 68 of substantially U-shapedconfiguration which is pivotally secured to the rearwardly extendingportion 52 by a fastening member 70 having a cotter pin 72 retaining thesame through aligned apertures in the legs of the U-shaped bracket 68and the rearwardly extending portion 52. The bracket 58 is inverted andthe terminal ends of the legs of the inverted U-shaped bracket 68 aredisposed in adjacent relation and are indicated by the numeral 74.

Mounted on the upper surface of the longitudinally extending base 12 isa mountingplate 76 having an upstanding pivot lug 78 secured theretowith the mounting plate 76 being secured to the base member 12 byfastening bolts 80. The lug 78 extends between the terminal ends 74 ofthe legs of the inverted U-shaped bracket 68 ing member 82 extendingtherethrough by a cotter pin 84.

By varying the position of the shaft or axle 56 in relation to thespring 24, an adjustment may be provided where various weights ordilferent size children may be effectively supported by the-device forjumpingor'boun'c ing movementin'a generally vertical planefiThe adjustment of the stirrups also facilitates'theflusepf the device bychildren of various sizes and the articulate joint between the rear endof the rearwardly extending portion 52 and the longitudinally extendingbase 12 permits the lever 48 to move substantially in a vertical planeand the bracket 68 may be adjusted longitudinally of the longitudinalbase member 12 for adapting the device to effectively handledifierentweights oi-"different'size children. V

The foregoing is'considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those r skilled in theart, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A toy riding device comprising an elongated base, a generallyU-shaped flat leaf spring having one end thereof rigidly secured to therear end of said base with the free end of said spring being disposed invertically spaced relation to the base with the free end of the springbeing longer than the end attached to the base for overlying the majorportion of the base in facing relation, an occupants seat attached tothe free end of said spring,

a substantially Ll-shaped lever having a forward upstanding portionpivotally attached to said'seat, means pivotally an'd movably vconnectingv the rear end of the rearwardly extending portion of saidlever to the rear of said base whereby an occupant of the-seatmay causevertical swinging movement thereof by shifting his weight thus causingflexure ofthe spring, said seat including a pair of forwardly extendingfurcations straddling the upstanding portion of the leverrand thepivotal attachment be: tween the L-shaped 'leverand the seat comprisesmeans pivotally interconnecting the furcations and the upstande ingportion of the lever, said interconnecting means being longitudinally'adjustably mounted on said furcations.

and held -itherein v I i Z JA toy riding device comprising an elongatedbase,

a generally U-shaped flat leaf spring having one end thereof rigidlysecured to the rear end of said base with the free end of said springbeing disposed in vertically spaced relation to the base with the freeend of the spring being longer than the end attached to the base foroverlying the major portion of the base in facing relation, an occupantsseat attached to the free end of said spring, a substantiallyL-shapedlever having a forward upstanding portion, means pivotallyconnecting the upstanding portion to said seat, means pivotally andmovably connecting the rear' end of the rearwardly extending portion ofsaid lever to the rear of said base whereby an occupant of the seat maycause vertical swinging movement thereof by shifting his weight thuscausing flexure of the spring, a pair of footrests spaced below theseat, means adjustably mounting said footrests on said lever, and ahandle adjacent the upper end of the upstanding portion of said lever.flr v v t 3."'A'riding device comprising an elongated supporting base, agenerally U-shaped leaf spring arranged vertically and-including ashortlower leg attached to the rear end of the-base, and an elongated upperleg extending forwardly in overlying spaced relationship to the majorportion of said base, a generally L-shaped lever disposed vertically andincluding an upwardly extending forward leg portion extending above theforward'portion ofthe upper leg of said spring and a rearwardlyextending generally horizontally .7 disposed leg portion, said upwardlyextending leg portion having a shape simulating an animals head, meanspivotally and movably connectingthe rear endlof the rearwardly extendingportion to the base adjacent the rear thereof, and meanspivotally'supporting the upwardly extending forward leg portion of the Lshapedlever from the forward portion of the upper leg of-said spring.

References Cited in the. file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS$2,463,268, f Handley Mar. 1, 1949 2,477,504 Varnum July 26, 1942FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Nov. 13,1934

